Question

Both lysosomes and vacuoles are endomembrane structures, yet they differ in terms of their functions. Comment.

Answer 1

Lysosomes are membrane-bound vesicular structures holding a variety of enzymes such as lipases, proteases and amylases. The purpose of lysosomes is to digest worn out cells. They are involved in the intracellular digestion of foreign food particles and microbes. Sometimes, they also act as suicidal bags. They are involved in the self digestion of cells. They are a kind of waste disposal systems of a cell. On the other hand, vacuoles are storage sacs found in cells. They might store the waste products of cells. In unicellular organisms, the food vacuole contains the consumed food particles. It also plays a role in expelling excess water and some wastes from the cell.

Answer 2

The differences in the functions of lysosomes and vacuoles are :

Both the organelles named lysosomes and vacuoles falls under the group of endomembrane organelles but still they have different functions.

Functions of lysosome -

1. This organelle with the help of hydrolytic enzymes undergoes autolysis by which they digests the dead cells and the dead structures.

2. During metamorphosis in the frog, the larval organs gets disappeared due to autolysis performed by lysosomes.

Functions of vacuoles -

1. This structure contains the materials that are of no use for the cell like sao, excretory wastes, etc.

2. Tonoplast which bounds the vacuole aids in transportation of materials and ions into vacuole.